Further Particulars
This document includes information about the role for which you are applying and the
information you will need to provide with the application.
1. Role details
Vacancy reference:
11630
Job title:
Microbiology Research Technician
Reports to:
Ceri Gwyther, Microbiology Laboratories Manager
David Johnson, Specialist Laboratories Manager
Salary:
£25,513 to £30,434 per annum
Terms and conditions:
Support Staff
Grade:
Grade 6
Duration of post:
31 December 2017
Working hours:
Full time
Location:
Faculty of Mathematics, Computing and Technology,
Walton Hall
Closing date:
noon, 12 November 2015
Type of application form accepted:
Long version
Number of referees required:
Two
Unit recruitment contact:
MCT-Staffing@open.ac.uk
Applications to be sent to:
MCT-Staffing-Applications@open.ac.uk
Please note that this post is not eligible for UK Visa and Immigration sponsorship
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2. Summary of duties
Main purpose of role:
The research technician’s primary role is to deliver an efficient and timely technical support
service across the Ecosystems and Geobiology Laboratories (EGL) in support of the
microbiological research and consultancy activity within the Faculty.
The role holder will support the effective operation of the microbiology laboratories and of the
installed equipment and services in alignment with the academic and business objectives of
the Faculty.
The Research Technician will support both laboratory and field related activities and develop
capability in accordance with Faculty requirements and University strategies and capabilities.
The role holder will maintain awareness of new and emerging technologies and alternative
means of delivery e.g. outsourcing, shared resources etc.
The Research Technician will work closely with the Microbiology Laboratories Manager and
other staff to ensure the optimisation of resources, particularly in areas of shared resources.
The Research Technician will also work closely with key members of academic staff to ensure
cost-effective solutions for laboratory and field based activity. The role holder will be tasked
with providing support for all duties in the laboratory as requested by the Microbiology
Laboratories Manager.
The Research Technician will contribute to the definition of and implementation of the
University’s laboratory policies, procedures, and best practices and support the Laboratory
Managers in investigation, development and implementation of any accreditation activity
associated with the microbiology labs.
The role holder will be responsible for H&S policy and practice in accordance with University
requirements within fieldwork and the laboratory.
Description of duties:
 The role holder will have responsibility for the day-to-day maintenance and monitoring of
specific experiments within the microbiology laboratories and to carry out various duties
around microbiology and molecular biology. Laboratory procedures will include: making
plates, sample preparation, sample counting, analysis of liquid samples, kineticturbidimetric methods and developing molecular biology capacity for analyzing
environmental samples and microbial isolates and other routine tasks as delegated by the
Microbiology Laboratories Manager.

Support short-term income generating opportunities from other University and external
clients, and enable their realization where appropriate.

Manage, supervise and support laboratory PhD students as appropriate.

To ensure appropriate support within detailed experimental protocols, including recording
and initial analysis of data and measurements where appropriate.

Assist the Microbiology Laboratory Manager with laboratory maintenance and the
availability of equipment, consumables and other requirements for the laboratories
including providing up to date and accurate information regarding supplies within the
laboratories.

Ensure that customers using the Faculty’s laboratory facilities receive a professional, high
quality service, and support a culture of continuous improvement in the team.

To be responsible for maintaining, monitoring, and some sample collection for experiments
both laboratory and field based, and recording results in spreadsheets, in liaison with the
lead academic.

Keep up to date with the latest developments in laboratory technology, processes and
equipment in terms of microbiological advances, particularly in molecular biology.

Support the Laboratory Managers by drafting risk and COSHH assessments and standard
operating procedures as required.
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
Develop and implement all Faculty laboratory policies and procedures in the laboratories,
including those for experimental protocols, security, disaster recovery, standards,
purchasing, and service provision.

Liaise closely with the Microbiology Laboratory Manager to ensure optimization of support
and staffing for activities as required.

Establish and maintain regular written and in-person communications with the EGL
Laboratory Managers and lead MCT academic regarding pertinent laboratory activities.
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3. Person Specification
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Criteria
Essential
Desirable
Education,
qualifications and
training
A degree in a relevant scientific subject (e.g. Environmental Sciences,
microbiology or a significant element of microbiology).
Further training in microbiological techniques
e.g. PCR, pathogen handling, health and safety
etc.
Knowledge, work and
other relevant
experience
A good understanding of chemical, physical and biological processes
associated with microorganisms.
An understanding of the role microorganisms
have in the breakdown of organic materials.
Experience using microbiological techniques to analyse environmental
samples. For example (not exclusive), pouring of media, plating out,
microscopy, simple identification, autoclaving, aspetic technique etc.
Experience undertaking and preparing samples
for polymerase chain reaction and terminal
restriction fragment length polymorphism
analysis.
A
Evidence of professional training in laboratory procedures, e.g.
project/laboratory risk assessment, health and safety, and COSHH.
Experience planning, prioritising and organising work independently to
achieve agreed objectives.
Experience establishing effective working relationships with both
academic and technical colleagues to achieve common goals.
Experience analysing and interpreting information to solve problems
independently.
Experience of managing large data sets.
Experience of communicating a range of information to suit the needs
of the audience.
Skills, capabilities
and qualities
Measured by
A Application
B Test
C Interview
Current driving license.
Ability to work as part of a team.
A/C
Experience writing scientific reports for industry.
Practical experience of taking field samples (soil,
rock, water or air) and ensuring samples are
uncontaminated.
Practical experience of laboratory and/or PhD
student support.
Practical experience of dealing with commercial
clients.
First aid qualification.
A/C
Ability to use effective questioning and listening skills.
Ability to adapt to changing situations.
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Strong IT skills and the ability to use a range of software packages
including Microsoft Office (Word & Excel).
Commitment to own personal development.
Special working
conditions
The post holder must be prepared to work flexibly. This may include
checking experiments in the evenings and weekends.
A/C
The post holder must be prepared to travel to sample sites and stay
overnight if required.
Additional
requirements
An understanding of and a commitment to equal opportunities and
diversity in the workplace.
A/C
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4. Role specific requirements e.g. Shift working
The post holder must be prepared to work flexibly as this work may include checking
experiments in the evenings and weekends.
The post holder must be prepared to travel to sample sites and potentially stay overnight.
Overtime will be reimbursed/remunerated according to the Terms and Conditions of
Employment for Support Staff.
5. About the unit/department
Faculty of Mathematics, Computing and Technology
The Faculty of Mathematics, Computing and Technology is one of the largest faculties of The
Open University (OU) with a turnover of approximately £80m, and with over 200 academic
staff, including academics based in our regional offices, as well as researchers, administrators,
curriculum managers, project officers, and secretarial support staff. With over 45,000 students
from a wide range of educational and social backgrounds studying our undergraduate and
postgraduate programmes and research degrees, our curriculum and research make a
difference to people’s lives. Our modules provide breadth across the technical and scientific
education demanded by the national and international knowledge economy, with the
curriculum depth (from foundation through to postgraduate level) to provide the pull-through
from lower- to higher-level skills. Our coverage ranges from quantitative analysis to policy,
from engineering to design, from information to interaction, from vendor qualifications to
technology management.
The breadth of our research enabled the Faculty to host returns to five Units of Assessment in
the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) and to contribute to further units of
assessment across the University. Our research is currently evidenced as world leading or
internationally excellent in a number of areas. It directly informs our teaching and ensures that
the Faculty remains at the forefront of pedagogic innovation and technology-enhanced
learning. In addition the Faculty is developing an ambitious enterprise agenda to exploit our
capabilities through partnerships, consultancies and other relationships.
The Faculty consists of three academic Departments:
•
Computing and Communications
•
Engineering and Innovation
•
Mathematics and Statistics
These strong interdisciplinary groups work collaboratively across departments/disciplines and
with other faculties.
The University has begun a process of reconfiguring its academic units, and as part of this a
new Faculty will be formed from the bringing together of the current Science and Mathematics,
Computing and Technology (MCT) Faculties. The new Faculty will be fully in place by 1st
August 2016. We expect this change to facilitate the many ways in which the two Faculties
already work together (including the sharing of some laboratory facilities) and to foster
additional opportunities.
The Integrated Waste Systems Research Group (IWS)
Integrated Waste Systems, or IWS, is a multidisciplinary research group which aims to deliver
sustainable resource management solutions. A key feature of the research is working with
stakeholders - with government bodies to provide evidence and policy-relevant understanding
and with businesses to develop practical solutions to real world waste management problems.
IWS is concerned with generating policy-relevant understanding of more sustainable ways to
manage waste and resources. Our work focuses on reducing the impact of waste on the
environment, health and climate change through technological, organisational and scientific
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approaches. Scientific and technological work includes research on waste characterisation and
biodegradability, health impacts and bio-processing.
Much of our work is practitioner based. We offer a pragmatic and applied approach combined
with objectivity and rigour. The group believes in partnership and multi-disciplinary working and
has a strong record of applied research projects with government, commercial and research
collaborators including DEFRA, Environment Agency, WRAP, SEPA, Health and Safety
Executive, NERC, Veolia, Shanks Group, Biffa, Sita, Renewable Energy Association, Aquapak
and a variety of University partners.
IWS maintains a suite of laboratories that are an acknowledged centre of excellence for
measuring emissions from a range of waste facilities with the capability to measure a range of
odours, gases, particulates and bioaerosols in an occupational or environmental context, and
the facilities to ascertain the performance of abatement equipment such as biofilters for
instance. This work has included developing a national protocol for environmental air quality
monitoring at waste sites; biological stack emissions from waste to energy sites; a national
biodegradability test; national policy on health and safety in food waste collections; fortnightly
and extended interval waste collections and biofilter emissions.
This post will also encompass the microbiology research and students within the current
Science Faculty. The post-holder should note that MCT and Science Faculties are in the
process of merging over the next 12 months.
Environmental microbiology group
The environmental microbiology group are part of the Department of Environment, Earth, and
Ecosystems (Science Faculty). The group is focused on understanding the role of
microorganism in biogeochemical cycling, with particular emphasis on extreme environments.
The main areas of research are as followed: 1) Microbe-mineral interactions; 2) microbial
physiology and 3) origins of life. We use a combination of techniques including traditional
microbiology, both aerobic and anaerobic, molecular biology, and geochemistry. Research is
predominantly funded by RCUK, including UKSA and STFC.
6. How to obtain more information about the role or application process
If you would like to discuss the particulars of this role before making an application please
contact Ceri Gwyther by email ceri.gwyther@open.ac.uk
If you have any questions regarding the application process please email MCTStaffing@open.ac.uk
7. Where to send completed applications
Please ensure that your application reaches the University by:
noon, 12 November 2015.
Email your application to: MCT-Staffing-Applications@open.ac.uk
Or post it to:
MCT Staffing Team, 2nd floor Pentz Building
Faculty of Mathematics, Computing and Technology
The Open University
Walton Hall
MK7 6AA
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8. Selection process and date of interview
The interview panel will be chaired by Dr. Toni Gladding (Senior Lecturer in Environmental
Engineering) and will also consist of Dr. Karen Olsson-Francis (Lecturer/Aurora Research
Fellow), Dr Ceri Gwyther (Microbiology Laboratories Manager) and David Johnson (Specialist
Laboratories Manager). Other members of the interview panel will be notified to candidates
nearer the time. The interviews will take place as soon as possible after the closing date.
The selection process for this post will include an assessment of the applicant’s cover letter,
CV, application form and an interview.
NB: It is important that candidates complete all sections of the application form in full.
The selection panel will be paying particular attention to the following section of the
application form: Describe briefly the nature of your present appointment, and any other
position which you have held that you consider relevant to this application. Please provide
details and evidence of how you meet the person specification.
We will let you know as soon as possible after the closing date whether you have been
shortlisted for interview. Further details on the selection process will be sent to shortlisted
candidates. Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.
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